Coffee Guide - Information on buying a coffee machine
Choosing a Coffee Maker
While tea is probably the nation's quintessential drink (at least in the U.K.) more and more people are drinking coffee, and there are now a huge variety of coffee types and blends available to the coffee enthusiast. Many people desire to get the best from their coffee at home or in the office, and with modern domestic coffee machines it is perfectly possible to create authentic coffee just like those you may drink in high-street coffee bars.Coffee makers and machines come in a large number of varieties from many manufactures with a considerable variance in price. If you are choosing a coffee machine we suggest you read the sections below to assist in choosing the correct machine for your needs.
Filter Machines
Filter machines or American coffee machines use a filter/drip system and are used with ground coffee. We sell filter machines from Dualit, Gaggia and Krups.
A percolator is a filter coffee machine in which boiling water is forced repeatedly up through a central tube to filter back down through a basket of ground coffee beans. The purpose of the process is to use the heated water to filter through the coffee and thus gradually extract its essence. We can recommend the
Dualit
machine for this purpose.
We also stock
Cafetieres
(also known as a French Press) from Bodum, Stellar, Smart Cafe and Cafe Stal. The ground coffee and hot water are
placed in the cafetiere and a filter plunger in the lid is used to push the
grounds to the bottom of the cafetiere.
Espresso Machines
For the true coffee connoisseur we recommend an espresso machine designed to deliver perfect espresso time after time.
Espresso machines must work at the optimum pressure (around 8 - 10 bar) and temperature (85 - 90ºC) to deliver true espresso. Most espresso machines come with frother attachments to allow cappuccino and latte coffee to be made, some more advanced models also feature dual boiler systems to minimise delays between each usage.
When choosing an espresso machine you should check the pump pressure of the machine. You will only require 8 - 10 bar pressure to produce real espresso but may need higher pressure to produce controlled steam. Usually a machine with around 15 bar nominal pressure is more than adequate. Also make sure the espresso machine can achieve the correct temperature with minimal heat loss as this is critical for perfect espresso.
We sell espresso machines from
Gaggia,
Jura,
Magimix,
Dualit and
Krups.
Nespresso Machines
Nespresso is a system for supplying coffee in sealed capsules for use with
specially equipped machines. It is ideal for the office because of it is quick
and easy to use and it delivers perfect espresso consistently. Nespresso
capsules come in a variety of flavours and strengths. These capsules are loaded
into a nespresso machine, giving the user an instant choice of flavours at the
touch of a button. We currently stock
Magimix Nespresso
and Krups
Nespresso
machines.
Coffee Types
Espresso
Espresso is only made from rich coffee beans (usually Arabica or Robusta), which must be very finely ground with care (see Coffee Grinding Guide) and then immediately processed in an espresso machine able to provide hot water at the correct temperature (85 - 90ºC) and pressure (8 - 10 bar). The actual process involves hot water being forced through the coffee grounds once the optimum pressure and temperature have been attained. The result is a very strong dark coffee with a caramel coloured top layer called the 'crema', which is the indication of a genuine espresso and is what gives espresso its distinguishing flavour. Espresso can be enjoyed at any time of the day though it is often favoured for after mealtimes. It is common to drink espresso in small doses because of the strong flavour, remember it is the quality that counts not the quantity.
Espresso is the basis of other types of coffee, such as cappuccino and latte and espresso machines often have attachments to supply these too. For tips when making espresso see Coffee Making Tips.
Cappuccino
Cappuccino is made with a part of fresh espresso coffee and a part of steamed milk (or cream), topped with frothed milk and often a sprinkling of chocolate powder or cinnamon. The result is a milky, caramel coloured drink with a delightful frothed milk topping. In fact the original Italian word is derived from the resemblance of the cappuccino's colour to the colour of a monk's habit. As a drink it is suitable for drinking at any time off the day. For tips when making cappuccino see Coffee Making Tips.
Latte
Latte, like cappuccino, is made with a part of freshly brewed espresso and a part of steamed milk, however the milk is not frothed. The result is milky coffee with distinct milk and coffee layers. Chilled milk may be used with cooled espresso for a coffee that can be served cold.
Coffee Grinding
The grinding of beans is a critical moment in the preparation of a cup of true espresso coffee. Ideally, it should be done immediately prior to the brewing of the coffee itself and must be conducted with maximum consistency and precision.There are two main types of coffee grinder, the blade grinder and burr grinder.
The blade grinder simply uses a rotating blade to chop the coffee beans but results in inconsistent grounds, though this is ideal for filter coffee and cafetiéres.
A burr grinder uses two spinning discs usually with an adjustable grinding mechanism to precisely chop beans to the optimum level i.e. your ground beans will be consistent in size making them ideal for true flavoured espresso.
We supply a range of both blade and burr grinders from Bodum, Dualit and Gaggia please take a look at our entire range of
coffee grinders. The Gaggia grinders are the most comprehensive range we supply, the
Gaggia ML is a blade grinder while the
Gaggia MM and
Gaggia MDF are burr grinders. The
Dualit Grinder is a professional burr grinder.
The
Bodum C Mills in Black and Chrome are blade grinders.
Coffee Making Tips
When making espresso ensure that the water tank is close to its fill level as this will help to achieve the optimum pressure needed for making genuine espresso. For best results the extraction process should be as quick as possible, to permit this make sure that sufficient pressure has built up before you begin.
When making cappuccino or latte it is preferable to use full-fat milk rather than semi-skimmed milk. It is important that the milk is fresh and has been chilled beforehand for best results. It is sensible to do the actual frothing/steaming just after you have finished making the espresso as the espresso extraction requires a consistent pressure. Using the frother releases steam which reduces the boiler pressure and you will then have to wait till the boiler reaches pressure again before you can make espresso. Some espresso machines have a dual boiler system which allows you to make espresso and froth simultaneously.
